Chapter 11

Upon Ferguson's return to London, the plane was sent back to Romania to retrieve Alucard, Seras and Pickman. Whatever supplies could be salvaged were also taken. With daylight approaching, Alucard and Seras went into two coffins taken from Romania to protect them from the sun. The townspeople were told they were the two of the Hellsing casualties being flown back to London for burial. Pickman stayed beside a third coffin. It was the one bearing Garreth's body. Pickman looked down at the box holding his friend's remains. Steadlum was unconcious and tied up tightly so he couldn't escape. It was all Pickman could do to keep from ripping him apart. But he would not rob himself of the chance to see justice done for his fallen friend and those who fought with him.

"They're gonna pay for this. Both those traitors are going to pay dearly for what they've done." He said gruffly to himself.

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Integra sat in her office waiting for Ferguson's arrival. Walter opened the door ushering the Hellsing commander into the office. Integra looked firmly into the captain's eyes. "Report." She ordered.

"The queen's messangers have heard Steadlum's confession and a copy is being played for the queen as we speak. Within the hour you should be recieving orders as to what kind of action is to be taken." Ferguson stated.

"Good. The troops here have been put on alert in case there are any sneak attacks. I recieved word that the Vatican has ordered Alexander Anderson back to Special Section Thirteen. Now that there is no more reason for him to remain in Romania, he is leaving it upon order by the Arch Bischop." Integra replied.

"Steadlum is being flown back here with Alucard, Seras and Pickman. What is to be done with him upon their return?" Ferguson asked.

"He will be imprisoned in the tower of London as is policy to do with any traitor of the crown." Integra answered.

"Yes sir. Are there any further orders at this time?"

"Wait at the hanger for the plane to land. Alucard and Seras will be taken to their chambers beneathe the mansion. They will wake up on their own. You and Pickman along with a small group of soldiers will escort Steadlum to his cell in the tower. I will await the queen's instructions and inform you as soon as I get them. Dismissed." Integra said.

"Yes sir." Ferguson replied and saluted before leaving the office.

After Ferguson left, Walter approached Integra's desk. "Sir, what do you think we should do about this situation? We are talking about one of the Knights. It will not be easy to apprehend him if he's working with the FREAKS." The aged retainer said.

"That will be up to the queen once she hears the confession. Have faith old friend. Her majesty will know what is to be done." Integra stated.

"Of course Sir. It is most disheartening to know one of the Knights could be capable of such actions. I fear the honor of the Knights is falling from grace." Walter replied.

"Her majesty will make sure this does not happen again. No doubt this traitor will be made an example as a warning for anyone else who gets any ideas." Integra said.

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Ferguson wait at the hanger along with a small band of soldiers as Sir Integra instructed. When the plane landed it was early evening. The sun had not yet fallen so Alucard and Seras were carried in their coffins to their chambers below the mansion. Steadlum was taken and formally arrested before being escorted to the Tower of London. The prisoner was none the worse for wear after being interrogated by Alucard. After Steadlum was in his cell, Ferguson made the report to Integra.

"The prisoner is in his cell sir. Has the queen contacted you?" He asked.

"Yes. As soon as night falls I'm going to leave for the Tower. Alucard, Seras and Walter will be accompanying me. All will be explained upon my arrival. Remain at the tower until then." Integra answered.

"Yes sir."

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Not long after their arrival, Alucard and Seras awoke from their daytime slumber. Upon their awakening both were given their nightly rations and ordered to meet with Integra in her office. The two vampires along with Walter appeared before the Hellsing leader.

"Steadlum has been taken to the Tower of London where he is being held. Her majesty has informed me we are going to apprehend the Knight in question, Sir Regenald. Because he has sided with the FREAKS a simple arrest could be very dangerous. Therefore we are going to lure him to us. And Steadlum is going to assist us in this task whether he wants to or not. I trust Alucard, after his interrogation he will be more than willing to comply." Integra said.

"I can assure you that if he is not willing I will make it so that he is master. But I do not believe he will wish to arouse my anger any further. I think he will go along with the program quite nicely." Alucard answered with a sinister grin.

"How are we going to get Sir Regenald to come to us?" Seras asked.

"That is where Steadlum comes in. He's going to bring Sir Regenald to us at the Tower. He will give Sir Regenald a summons to meet him at the tower. Then the trap will be sprung. Alucard, you and Officer Seras will proceed to the tower at once. Walter and I will be leaving for there now. Ferguson and Pickman will be waiting for us." Integra answered.

"Yes Sir." Seras replied saluting.

"As you wish master." Alucard said in his usual smooth tone. Then he and Seras disappeared.

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The tower appeared deserted when Sir Regenald's automobile pulled up. The driver stepped out and opened the door allowing a short and somewhat heavy set man to step out. He had short hair and a respectably groomed beard and mustache. He looked about nervously for a moment. After surveying his surroundings he was satisfied no one was watching him. He proceeded into the tower to the middle level where Steadlum requested they meet.

"Steadlum? Steadlum, where are you?" He asked looking around the cold, dank room. At first he heard no answer. He waited a moment. The silence began to unnerve the Knight.

"Steadlum! Where are you?" He demanded.

"He's right here." A stern but feminine voice said. Regenald turned around suddenly to find a glaring Integra emerge from the shadows.

"Hellsing? What are you doing here? Where is Steadlum?" Regenald asked fearfully.

"I told you. He's right here." Integra replied pointing to a far wall. Alucard emerged from his black void carrying Steadlum's limp frame across his shoulder. He dumped the former officer onto the floor. Steadlum let out a groan as his body hit the cold stone floor.

"You! Why is that thing here? What is all this?" Regenald demanded angrily.

"Alucard is here to help enforce an arrest." Integra stated coldly.

"Arrest? You're out of your mind Hellsing! You've lost your bloody mind!" Regenald shouted.

"Officer Seras, please play the recording so that Sir Regenald can hear it." Integra requested.

"Of course Sir." Seras replied taking out the digital voice recorder.

"Recording? What..what's the meaning of all this?"

"It's a ruse! It's all a bloody sham! The FREAKS were not made here! They were sent here! It was Regenald who made sure Hellsing was distracted with FREAKS in Romania!" Steadlum's voice shouted as the recording played.

"That's a lie! The bastard made that up!" Regenald barked.

"Really? Alucard stated that when he tried to look into Steadlum's mind he could not gain access for some reason. And blood samples obtained from Steadlum reported there was something strange in his body, like a substance that somehow prevented Alucard's power from penetrating Steadlum's brain. Now why would that be?" Integra asked suspcisiously.

"This piece of filth would have said anything to get me to stop...questioning him. How is it that your name just happen to come into his head human?" Alucard questioned.

"I do not owe an explanation to a vampire slave!" Regenald barked.

"You may not owe him an explanation, but you most certainly will owe one to the queen. Sir Regenald, you are formally being placed under arrest. The charge is treason. Men, take the prisoner." Integra ordered.

"You'll do nothing of the sort bitch!" Regenald shouted and rushed at Integra. Before he could even get two steps foward however, he found himself face down on the floor. Seras straddled him wrenching his hands tightly behind his back.

"She does move fast doesn't she?" Alucard commented approvingly.

"I was with MI-5 you know." Seras replied.

"Get this creature off of me!" Regenald yelled.

"Men, take charge of the prisoner." Integra said. Hellsing soldiers moved foward and subdued the traitorous knight. He was put in shackles and led away to be placed in a cell with Steadlum.

"We will remain here with the prisoners. The queen will be informed of Sir Regenald's capture, and then I will inform you of her instructions." She said.

Alucard and Seras nodded. Then Integra turned to Ferguson and Pickman. "I need you two to head up Hellsing forces in case we are called to action. Return to headquarters at once. God and her majesty be with you. Amen."

"Amen." Ferguson and Pickman replied at the same time.

"I'm going to report the arrest. I will be back in a few minutes." Integra said to Alucard and Seras.

Walter accompanied Integra leaving the two vampires alone for the moment. Seras felt something wrap around her waist. She felt Alucard's hand run through her hair. "Happy to be home?" He asked.

"Most of me is. I'm kind of disappointed we didn't get to stay in Romania longer. I would have loved to see all of it." Seras answered.

Alucard held Seras possesively to him inhaling the fragrance of her hair. "Someday you and I shall go back there. Someday..." Alucard said as his voice trailed off. He cocked his ear upward.

"What is it?" Seras asked.

"Master is returning." He said. He let go of Seras, albeit relunctantly. Buisness came before pleasure.

"Your orders master?" Alucard asked.

"We are going to obtain information from Regenald about why he sided with the FREAKS and if there are any further dangers we need to know about." Integra answered.

Alucard got the familiar wicked smile on his face. "Looks like we get to have a bit of fun tonight after all." He thought to himself.

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Regenald found himself in a dark and dank cell along side Steadlum. Steadlum was going in and out of conciousness. Regenald looked at him with scathing eyes.

"You idiot! You were supposed to keep quiet! You call yourself a man? What could the vampire have possibly done to you to make you spill everything when I was so close!" The now former Knight barked.

Steadlum struggled to talk but found the task anything short of impossible. He could only mumble and sputter.

"I'm afraid your cohort isn't capable of speaking anymore. He had a terrible accident involving a rather hot piece of iron." Alucard replied with an evil chuckle.

"So that's what the scream was." Seras thought.

"Yes, he wasn't very careful now was he?" Alucard asked sarcastically.

Steadlum's tongue hung open, or rather, what was left of it. Instead of a fleshy pink muscle, there was only charred and blackened flesh. Regenald turned away in disgust.

"Funny, I thought you'd admire my work. I do try my best being the artist that I am." Alucard said.

"Regenald, first I want you to know that the Queen has just stripped you of your knighthood. You are no longer associated with the Knights who have retained their honor. The queen has also informed me I may obtain the information you're hiding from you by any means necessary." Integra said as a wicked smile graced her normally stern features.

"You wouldn't dare! I am a decendent of nobility Integra Hellsing! You won't touch me!" Regenald spat.

"Hmmm, you're right. I've no wish to get my nice suit sullied with your filthy bodily fluids. Of course Alucard doesn't have any such qualms." Integra said casting a glance at her vampiric servant.

"It all depeneds upon how willing you are to disclose the information about your association with the FREAKS." Integra replied.

"She's not worthy of being the ruler of this country! She allows humans to ally themselves with the filth they're charged with destroying!" Regenald spat.

"And yet you yourself have made a deal with the vampire rubbish to fulfill your own desires for power. I think that makes you a hypocrite as well as a traitor." Integra stated plainly.

"NO! Great Britain needs a REAL ruler! I planned on having the FREAKS exterminated after..."

"After what?" Integra asked sternly.

"It wasn't supposed to happen this way! I was going to bring order back to this country!" Regenald yelled.

"Alucard, look into his mind." Integra ordered.

"As you wish master." Alucard replied with a hint of disappointment. Reading the former knight's mind wouldn't be as much fun as beating the information out of him, but orders were orders. Alucard stalked up to Regenald who tried to pull away. He found his throat caught in a grip that came just a heart beat from crushing his vocal chords.

"I command you to give me your thoughts human." Alucard ordered mentally. However he found his mind powers were being blocked. The trick seemed too familiar. It was the same problem he encountered with Steadlum. The vampire got a sadistic glint to his eye.

"I cannot read his thoughts master. He is using the same substance Steadlum was given to block me from his mind." Alucard replied.

"Then I guess you'll just have to make him talk Alucard. Guards, take the prisoner to the lower dugeon." Integra ordered.

Regenald struggled as the guards unchained him from the wall and shackled his wrists and feet. Then they took him yelling curses at Integra to the lower dugeon of the tower.

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Integra was making her way toward the dungeon when her cell phone suddenly started to ring. "Yes?" She asked.

"Sir Integra! We've just learned FREAKS are lurking around Buckingham Palace! The Queen is being safeguarded in her bedroom by her special forces but requests Hellsing's assistance immediately!" Walter exclaimed.

"Deploy First Action Unit at once!" Integra shouted into the phone and quickly hung up. "Alucard!" She shouted.

"Yes master." Alucard answered.

"I'm on my way to Buckingham Palace. FREAKS are making an attempt on the queen's life! Get that bastard to talk no matter what you have to do to him!" Integra ordered as she rushed from the tower.

Alucard and Seras were left alone with the prisoner. "Do you have that recording device ready Seras?" Alucard asked.

"I certainly do. Ready to record every word he says." Seras answered.

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